Two more doctors shifted from Nurpur hospital, locals upset

After shifting three specialist doctors, the state government yesterday transferred two MBBS doctors from the 200-bed Nurpur Civil Hospital to a health facility at Gangath. The move has triggered resentment among locals as after shifting of a paediatrician, an ophthalmologist and a dermatologist in the past few months, the health services werre crippled at the Nurpur hospital.

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The shifting of two doctors to Gangath Civil Hospital immediately after the visit of Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil on Sunday will further hit the hospital’s emergency and OPD services.

Former MLA Ajay Mahajan had appealed to the Health Minister to deploy of specialist doctors against the vacant posts at the Nurpur Civil Hospital. Despite his plea, an order from the office of the Director, Health and Family Welfare Department, was issued for deputation of Dr Nakul and Dr Kekti at Civil Hospital, Gangath, on December 24.

The Nurpur hospital was upgraded from 100-bed to a 200-bed facility during the previous Jairam Thakur government in 2018 and 34 posts of doctor were created by issuing a notification.

Majority posts of doctor, specialist and paramedical and nursing staff had been filled at the time, but with the change of regime in the state and after election of a BJP MLA from Nurpur two years ago, the hospital has allegedly started suffering neglect. Thirteen out of 34 sanctioned posts of doctor are vacant now.

The OPD has daily registration of 400-500 patients and notwithstanding the government’s tall claims, the hospital has been allegedly witnessing discrimination for the past two years.

Promod Mahajan, president of Nurpur Sudhar Sabha, Ashok Sharma, president of Nurpur Municipal Council, and elected representatives of local Panchayati Raj Institutions have appealed to the Chief Minister to give benefits of his mission of ‘Vayavasha Parivartan’ to the people of the area, too.